THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1741, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER, THE ORMOLU MOUNTS FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY

Kändler first modeled a pair of cats, one with a mouse in its mouth, in September 1736. His work report records: Zwey St. Kleine Kätzgen aufs Lager in Thon poussiret, davon eine sitzend, die andere aber, wie sie eine Maus im Maule hat vorgestellet ist [2 small cats modeled in clay for the warehouse, of which one is seated, but the other, presented as if it has a mouse in its mouth]⁽¹⁾. Just over 4 years later, in January 1741 he modeled a cat with a mouse in its mouth and its companion in the evenings of his holiday with some assistance. The size specified (8 Zoll) is very close to the present models: Eine Katze sitzend, von 8 Zoll hoch, und eine Maus im Rachen haltend [a sitting cat, 8 Zoll high, holding a mouse in its mouth], and Ein dergl. zu vorstehender, als Compagnon [one like the above, as a companion piece]⁽²⁾. Kändler was paid for these models separately from the manufactory’s treasury.

1. Cited by Ulrich Pietsch, Die Arbeitsberichte des Meissener Porzellanmodelleurs, Johann Joachim Kaendler, Leipzig, 2002, p. 41.
2. Cited by Ulrich Pietsch, ibid, 2002, p. 85. One Saxon Zoll is equivalent to 2.35 cm. in today’s measurements, or roughly 1 inch, see Maureen Cassidy-Geiger, ‘Hof-Conditorei and Court Celebrations in 18th Century Dresden’ in The International Ceramics Fair & Seminar, London, June 2002, p. 24.